LogMeIn or Similar ?

Forums › Desktop computing › LogMeIn or Similar ?

Piri

24 posts

Geek

#13952 6-Jun-2007 22:16

I would like to be able to log into my Home PC from overseas and am looking for a simple but effective solution.
The LogMeIn product looks okay and seems reasonably priced?
I was considering setting up remote access using a static IP etc. but that looks rather complicated. Currently on Xtra plan where Static IP is no extra cost. Any comments / advice appreciated

Piri

rscole86

4973 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#73708 6-Jun-2007 22:18

The free version of Hamachi should work, it depends on what you want to do.

spcole

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#73711 6-Jun-2007 22:43

Hamachi is a VPN so not exactly a remote access solution - not in the way that most people mean anyway. Windows Remote Desktop or any of the VNC variants should do it. Just remember to leave your PC on, and alter any ports on your router. And that any passwords passing to and fro may not be encrypted. Time to check that Wireless router if you are using one!

BTW Hamachi is free, LogMeIn, which took over Hamachi, has a number of commercial options.

On this subject too, one can use DynDns instead of a static IP but though a lot of routers allow one to input your DynDns username/password, they are not really accredited by DynDNS themselves. Use the free software version instead.

Have you considered what will happen in the event of a power failure? Will it auto-reboot and connect?

ZollyMonsta

3009 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#73712 6-Jun-2007 22:45

There is a free version of logmein which enables pretty much the same functionality as vnc.
You only pay for the pro version (which allows file transfer and a couple of other functions).

I've been using the free version for a while now and had no issues.

Check out my LPFM Radio Station at www.thecheese.co.nz - Now on iHeart Radio, TuneIn and Radio Garden

As per the usual std disclaimer.. "All thoughts typed here are my own."

grant_k

3539 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#73714 6-Jun-2007 22:56

I use TightVNC:

http://www.tightvnc.com/

It's a variant of the original VNC with File Transfer and better/faster compression. Having a Static IP is the best idea, especially if it's free. DynDNS can be flaky at times, especially when you have to rely on a monitoring program to detect changes in your IP address.

It's not complicated at all to use VNC. Just request a Static IP from your ISP and Forward Port 5900 from your router to the appropriate address on your LAN.

TightVNC is free and I have been using it for around 5 years now with no problems. Best of all, the Viewer is so small it fits on a single floppy disk or small USB drive.

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79253 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#73715 6-Jun-2007 22:59

I use LogMeIn Free in a couple of PCs, and LogMeIn IT Reach in my servers. I also have Hamachi in all machines, and as said before it's just a VPN, not remote access.

I prefer this solution than VNC because there's no firewall configuration involved, and even though I have a static IP address LogMeIn works well with any IP.

spcole

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#73719 6-Jun-2007 23:09

UltraVNC thru SSH if you are worried about security. UltraVNC also allows for reverse connection and repeaters - with personalisation too.

CrossLoop has its place as well.

Piri

24 posts

Geek

#73863 7-Jun-2007 17:40

Thanks everyone for the ideas - I'll need a little time to munch through them, but looking forward to it.
Will let you know how I get on.

Cheers,
Piri